Following six successful days on show at the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) in late February, the MVRDV-designed Netherlands Pavilion has now been reinstalled in the atrium of the Tainan Public Library, where it will remain on show until April 28th.

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The pavilion was designed to represent the Netherlands as the “Guest of Honour” at TIBE 2024, marking 400 years since the first encounter between the Dutch and the native people of the island of Taiwan. Comprising three adjoining circles wrapped in images of Dutch landscapes, it provides a platform for a variety of narratives. The exhibition on the pavilion’s walls, which was also curated by MVRDV, reflects on the 400-year relationship and offers a critical summary of the Netherlands’ colonial history and its impacts, spanning from the 17th Century to the modern era; it presents modern-day Dutch design and sustainability expertise; and it elaborates on ideals of diversity and inclusivity, and the struggles that still exist in living up to these ideals. Finally, of course, it offers space to showcase and explore a wide range of Dutch literature.

Image © Shephotoerd

Tainan marks the location of the first Dutch settlement in Taiwan, making it the ideal city in which to continue the pavilion’s journey. The first Dutch architecture in this location comprised a fortress constructed by the Dutch East India Company; today, Dutch architects contribute to Tainan with architecture for the public good, including the library itself, which was designed by Mecanoo and MAYU, as well as MVRDV’s projects Tainan Spring and Tainan Market. The city’s strong connection to the 400-year anniversary makes the curation of the pavilion – which, in part, presents a critical look at the Netherlands’ colonial history in Taiwan and its early relationships with both the native peoples and the Chinese population on the island – all the more profound.

Image © Shephotoerd

Similarly, the pavilion’s position in the atrium of the Tainan Public Library resonates strongly with the message of that MVRDV first presented at TIBE. The pavilion reflects on important values of tolerance, free speech, diversity, and inclusivity, and features a dedicated section to showcase children’s literature, making a public library an ideal setting to reach a wide cross-section of visitors. The pavilion also sits under a suspended sculpture by Paul Cocksedge which, in the words of the library’s designers, symbolises “freedom of thought and the pleasure of reading”. This aligns with the pavilion’s motto, “reading expands horizons”, metaphorically represented by the expansive horizons of Dutch landscapes that occupy its walls.

Image © Shephotoerd

The Netherlands Pavilion is presented at Tainan Public Library in partnership with Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tainan City Government, and Tainan Public Library. Read more about the design and curation of the pavilion here.